The good old days

Just got a forwarded email about how we survived our mom's smoking and drinking while they were pregnant, we didn't have car seats, or bike helmets and kids were not overweight because...they had friends and played with them all day -- until the street lights went on. Well, I am here to say, first of all, I despise "good ol days" shit like that. While I do think parents are more bound by social pressure to hover and thus children are more bound I distinctly remember several fat-ass kids in my neighborhood growing up. And they played right along side us. I recall another childhood friend who had diabetes. I remember getting 20 frickin stitches from a bike wreck in which a helmet surely would have helped (thanks, Mom, for the FREEDOM!!).

I am all for kids playing but let's not mystify the past or pulverize the present. When you are willing to unplug from the TV or the computer (if you are reading this you are not quite there yet!), take all of your kids' electronics away, throw out the seat belts and bike helmets and send your kids out in the morning with the instructions to return before the street lights come on then forward away. If you are not then just stop. Stop it. Go find your kid (probably somewhere playing video games or watching TV) and play with him or her instead of sending me that crap.

Signed,
grouchy adult whose mom smoked and drank while pregnant